Club football will once again return this weekend after the international break and we have a massive fixture on our hands on Saturday. Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham will lock horns with their London rivals West Ham United at White Hart Lane in a London Derby. Both sides will be desperate to win this fixture but for much different reasons.
Spurs are seven games winless in all competitions and badly need a win to get back in the title race. They still are the only unbeaten club in the Premier League but are six points behind leaders Liverpool and three points behind the final Champions League spot holders Arsenal. On the other hand, West Ham have struggled badly this season which was not at all expected from them. They find themselves in 17th spot after a lacklustre start to the campaign, having picked up just three victories from their opening 11 matches.
Team news
Tottenham Hotspur
Pochettino will have a serious headache while choosing his starting XI for this one. As many as eight first-team players are either out or doubtful. Toby Alderweireld (knee) Erik Lamela (hip) and Ben Davies (ankle) are ruled out, while Dele Alli remains doubtful for the match with a minor knee complaint.
Mousa Dembele (muscle fatigue), Christian Eriksen (hip) and Danny Rose (foot injury) are all doubtful for the London derby. Vincent Janssen is also carrying a knock. Moussa Sissoko will be available for selection having served his three-match suspension.
West Ham United
Slaven Bilic also has some major injury concerns to handle. Defenders James Collins (calf) and Winston Reid (hamstring) are doubts for the match, while striker Diafra Sakho (back) is still unlikely to return. Captain Mark Noble is also suspended. Sam Byram (hamstring), Andy Carroll (knee), Gokhan Tore (thigh) and Reece Oxford (ankle) are certainly going to miss out.
Predicted lineups
Tottenham Hotspur (4-1-4-1): Lloris; Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama; Sissoko, Dembele, Eriksen, Son; Kane.
West Ham United (3-4-3): Adrian; Kouyaté, Reid, Ogbonna; Antonio, Fernandes, Obiang, Cresswell; Lanzini, Ayew, Payet.
Key players
Tottenham Hotspur- Harry Kane
The English international just returned from injury against Arsenal before the international break and was seemingly not 100%. The 23-year-old should be in good shape for the game and needs to fire in order to get Spurs back on track.
West Ham United- Dimitri Payet
West Ham often looked like a one-man army this season. Payet had a brilliant international break and Bilic will look forward to his French maestro to inspire the Hammers to a good result.
Odds
Tottenham to win at 13/5
Draw at 17/5
West Ham to win at 6/1
